Product description

A great flood wave threatens Moomin Valley! When the Moomin family is flooded out of its home, the Moomins set about finding themselves a new one. And being resourceful little creatures, they soon find a very original one: a floating theatre!

Author information

Tove Jansson was born in Helsingfors, Finland, in 1914. Her mother was a caricaturist who designed 165 of Finland's stamps and her father was a sculptor. She studied painting in Finland, Sweden and France, and subsequently became a book illustrator. Her extraordinary illustrative style is seen as a design classic the world over. Originally written in Swedish, the Moomintroll books have been translated into over 40 languages and adapted for television, film, radio and opera. Tove Jansson lived alone on a small island in the gulf of Finland, where most of her books were written. She died in 2001.

Review quote

“The Moomin books make for both splendid bedtime read-alouds and solitary savoring.” –"Wall Street Journal" “It’s difficult not to be drawn in by the adventures of Moomintroll and his family. . . . The Moominfolk face life’s odd twists and occasional disasters with philosophical calm—an unusual and endearing perspective that will hook readers of all ages.”—"Publishers Weekly"“Jannson’s invention and philosophy of life remain as appealing as ever.”—"The Horn Book"“Read this Finnish classic for Jansson’s quirky humor and lightly satiric view of life.”—"St. Petersburg Press"“A lost treasure now rediscovered . . . A surrealist masterpiece.”—Neil Gaiman“Jansson was a genius of a very subtle kind. These simple stories resonate with profound and complex emotions that are like nothing else in literature for children or adults: intensely Nordic, and

Editorial reviews

The odd adventures of an even odder group of make-believe characters take them through a tidal wave to the strangest house imaginable with everything made of paper, wood or plaster. They soon discover the house is a theater and they proceed with typical misadventures to write and stage a play. Optimism always reigns as Moominpapa, Moominmama, the Snork Maiden, Little My, Misabel and a host of others engage in a labyrinth of whimsy. The wit here and there may be a bit sophisticated for the age level, but the story loaded with situation will appeal to those with a preference for intricate fancy. (Kirkus Reviews)